Thick as Thieves

Summary: Rudy and Liesel both escaped the Himmel Street bombing. With nothing left, the two teenagers run away from what is left of their home. This is the story of what occurred on their adventure. Rudy/Liesel

Disclaimer: Not mine. If it were..well that ending never would have happened.

Chapter One

Promise and Death's First Visit

It was a cold night when I first saw young Rudy Steiner, with hair the colour of lemons, make his way down the snow covered streets, to the small house where Liesel Meminger resided, with Herr and Frau Hubermann.

A small light shone through the window that leads to the Hubermann's basement. I watched, hidden in dark shadows, as quiet as a mouse. Rudy stopped suddenly in the street and looked around him, before bending down so he was face to face with the bedroom window.

One knock. Two knocks. Three knocks were tapped against the cold sheet of glass. One knock. Two knocks. Three knocks followed again, quicker and more urgent in their tone. A click was heard inside as a window latch was lifted and the window opened slowly.

Blue eyes that belonged to a face as pale as the moonlight that reflect down on the snow, peered out and a delicate mouth turned into a shy smile.

"Guten Abend my book thief." Rudy said as he slipped in through the small window and slid with ease down to the floor.

** A fact about Rudy Steiner.**

Although his small build does annoy him, he is secretly thankful for it, because it allows him to slip into tight places.

"What is it Rudy?" Liesel asked, "It's a bit late for your visit nein?"

"I couldn't sleep. Are your Mama and Papa still awake?"

"Nein. Mama retired hours ago and Papa just not long said goodnight."

Rudy sighed in relief. He knew Rosa Hubermann was a heavy sleeper. He did not fancy risking her wrath. I do not blame him. Rosa is a woman not to be tampered with. Hardened from the last war, she is a woman of force.

"I couldn't sleep." Rudy said. "I tried and tried but something wouldn't let me. So I thought I would take a walk and I saw your candle on." He looked to his friend, her golden hair shining in the soft candle light, glowing dimmer and dimmer by the minute. "I did not disturb you did I?" Rudy asked looking at the pencils and paper that lay on the makeshift desk and the thin blankets arranged in a small nest on a hard looking chair.

"Nope. I was just writing in my book. So when Max comes home he can read it. It will be like he never left!"

"That's cute." Rudy said. The blonde haired boy sat himself down on the desk and went to look at the book in front of him. Liesel quickly snapped it shut.

"O no Rudy. It is for Max." She scolded. "Besides, it is not finished yet." Liesel picked up the book and cradled it to her like a precious gemstone.

"Well when it is finished, may I read it Saumensch?"

"We shall see Saukerl" Liesel responded. The blonde boy only smiled. "But Rudy, what is the matter with you? Normally you would have requested a kiss or two by now." She said this with a smile on her face, yet I could see her eyes were clouded with worry for her lemon haired friend.

"Is there a kiss waiting?" Rudy asked hopefully. Liesel only laughed and shook her head. Rudy smiled for a few seconds, before frowning.

"Liesel, are you not worried about what is happening...out there." Rudy asked. Liesel knew that out there meant the world beyond Moching. He looked to her, steel in his eyes. "There is talk. Talk our side is loosing. And the Führer is quickly loosing support. There are rumors, hushed whispers at night between my Mama her neighbors, that Herr Hitler is growing weaker by the minute. "

"And is that not good Rudy? If Herr Hitler does indeed run out of power, then this war could be over!"

"Yes it is good, but have you not thought what is going to happen to us if Herr Hitler gives in and surrenders? What will happen to us German children when enemy lines invade Germany?" Rudy stopped, listened quietly for any sudden noises as he caught his breath. I should point out at this moment, all of Rudy's words were rushed. Liesel was barely able to keep up. "What about my Papa Liesel?..He hasn't returned home yet and he promised he would be back before I turn sixteen..."

Rudy trailed off and looked into the dying candle, now down to it's last few licks. Liesel stood, like a ghost in the quietness, before slowly and cautiously edging closer to Rudy.

"Rudy. Is that why you can't sleep? Because of your Father?"

** A fact about Liesel Meminger **

They say the quietest people are the most wisest and observant. They are thought to be more aware of other's feelings than those who are not. So when Liesel saw a lone tear softly slide down Rudy's face, she did not mention it. For she knew, Rudy wouldn't wish her to see it.

"Promise me Liesel. Promise you won't tell no one. Especially Franz."

"I promise Rudy." And to further seal the gesture, she wrapped her pinky finger around Rudy's. When Rudy looked at her, questions on his face, Liesel smiled. "It's an old ritual. I read in a book that those who made a promise would wrap their smallest finger around each other's. If someone were to break that promise, the smallest finger would be cut off and fed to the wildlife."

Rudy smiled at his friend and nodded. She then gestured for Rudy to carry on. After a few deep breaths, he continued.

"Late at night. When it is very dark, my Papa comes to me in my sleep. I see him in full uniform, waiting at enemy lines, poised with his gun already to be fired. I see him as he attacks enemies and helps fellow servicemen. I smell death and blood. I taste gunpowder, I hear the drones of enemy tanks and planes. The prayers and cries for those who have passed on. I see it all and it...it frightens me." Rudy stopped, gasped for a breath, and continued "I know what they do. Do to those who are captured. They treat them like the Jüdan. Like filth. It haunts my dreams, my nightmares and my waking moments."

Another tear fell from Rudy's eye. He wiped it away angrily. "Mama says I need to be strong. As a role model for the younger ones." Another tear. "I don't want to be strong though. I miss my Papa." The tears were coming down faster now. "I just want him home." His voice was now wavering as sobs racked his body.

Liesel stood there, before doing what she had seen Mama do when she was upset. She wrapped her arms around Rudy and whispered soft words like "Shh" and "It's OK" in his ear.

"I just want him home." Rudy said again, repeating this lone sentence over and over again like a mantra.

"Soon Rudy. He will be home soon." Liesel assured her friend. "Maybe not today, or next week, but soon." She pressed her lips together though. How exactly long would soon be? She remembered how frightened she had been when Papa had been drafted. How Mama had cried late at night, how Rudy had let her take her anger out on him, then held her as she wept afterwards.

"The worst part is.." Rudy trailed off. Liesel did not press him for the rest of the sentence. She just settled for holding him whilst he let all his anger out.

"What if Papa never comes home?" Rudy asked her.

"Nein Rudy. None of that talk."

"But it is possible to happen! I have seen yellow cards being brought back. Young Olga from down the road got called out of class remember? Her brother had been killed in action. I see my Mama looking pale every time one of the SS come to the house." Rudy stopped. "It's her greatest fear. She fears we will get one. Not today or tomorrow but soon. In the near future."

"Rudy. Rudy. Listen." Liesel said moving to stare at Rudy. "Your Papa will be home soon. He loves you, your Mama and your siblings very much. When he comes home, everything will be back to normal." She let a smile grace her face. "When it is, you can continue your irritating game of trying to kiss me."

Rudy laughed at that. I watched as a light lit up behind his watery eyes

"Danke my book thief." Was all he said.

Life, is a tricky thing. It is both delicate and tough at the same time. Blink and it could vanish before your eyes. Sometimes it is meant to be. Other times it is pure accident. Whatever the time, wherever the place, I am there, waiting. Death is impossible to escape.

So it was fate that I was brought to Himmler. Fate that Rudy Steiner left his warm bed to venture out to seek Liesel's company in the dark, deep and damp basement.

There was no warning that night. A mis-reading of a map. The click of a button. A whistle, followed by silence. Then an explosion.

My work was quick and painless. Whilst everyone slept soundly in their beds, I gathered their souls.

No one survived. No one except two teenagers. One with hair the colour of lemons, and the other with eyes that held such worry. Liesel Meminger and Rudy Steiner. Why I spared them, I do not know.

All I knew is, it would be many years before me and Liesel would cross paths again.